The Rockies, crawling into the second half, can look at their bullpen situation from a couple different angles.

1. Their problems as a team are certainly not exclusive to the relief corps. In going 6-21 since June 16, just four of those losses belong to the bullpen. Colorado’s starting pitching is the true culprit. That is, the starting pitching excluding Jorge De La Rosa. He has four of those six wins.

2. The bullpen, though, is struggling. Rockies relievers have a 5.09 ERA over the past 30 days, second worst in baseball ahead of only Houston. Their SIERA (skill-interactive ERA, a park-independent pitching measure) is 3.91, second worst in baseball ahead of only Toronto.

After the Rockies on Friday turned a 2-1 lead at Pittsburgh (behind De La Rosa) into a 4-2 loss (behind the bullpen)[1], Rockies manager Walt Weiss was asked if it’s time to turn to other relief arms.

“What other guys?” he asked.

“These guys have all had success before. They’re struggling right now.”

He’s right. The Rockies are stuck. They’re getting to a point where Juan Nicasio might be the only avaible arm in line for a recall to the bigs from Triple-A Colorado Springs in a relief role. He as a 6.39 ERA for the Sky Sox since his demotion.

Matt Belisle (2-5) was tagged for the loss Friday. Adam Ottavino got a blown save. And Rex Brothers gave up a run over just 1/3 inning.

It’s doubly tough when Ottavino, one of the Rockies’ better relievers (3.95 ERA, 2.67 SIERA) struggles. He didn’t allow a hit in his 2/3 innings of work Friday. But, with the bases loaded, he hit Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte in the head with a fastball for the game-tying run.

“We had a lead when I came in. We didn’t have the lead when I came out,” Ottavino said. “No matter what, it wasn’t a good job. No matter what I did afterward, it doesn’t really make up for the mistake. It was a bad pitch. I wish it didn’t happen.”

Ottavino was sincerely concerned for Marte’s well-being after the game.

“I threw him a slider before it. And I wanted to throw a fastball up — not in and up like that. Obviously I didn’t execute it. I hope he’s all right,” Ottavino said. “I’m glad he stayed in the game. That’s a good sign. I know he came out. I hope he’s all right. You never want to do that. It was a bad pitch.”

But to say the Rockies are in trouble behind their bullpen is to suggest there’s something different lately. Their 4.70 ERA overall this season is also second-worst in MLB.

Footnote: Weiss said the Rockies were without left-handed reliever Boone Logan because of a neck strain.

“We were in a little bit of a bind tonight because Boone [Logan] wasn’t available. His neck locked up on him. We were a little short late with a left-hander. But we’ve got to win those games.”